The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-09-17
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
A short SessiOn-Recepti0n of N Report
ON Taxation and Adjournment.

morning in Wilson Post Hall, Second and
Holiday streets. There were present Messrs.
Edward Stake, Ezra BURNER, c. W. Humric-
house, of Washington county; c. Lyon Rogers,
Washington Stevenson, DR.. Frank Patterson,
of Baltimore county; James .. Dennis, of
Somerset county; Capt. H. Clay NALL, of
Frederick county; DR.. r. c. Mackall, Fl. S.
Coudon, of Cecil county; E. L. NJ. Hardcastle,
VIM. Collins, DR.. |. L. Adkins, of Talbot
county; Prof w. Leslie Robinson, W. B.
Neale, of Baltimore city; Col. VIM. Allan, of
McDonogh School; Thomas F. Shepherd, of
Carroll county; E. NJ. Allen, Thos. F. Hayes,
of Hartford county; DR.. W. w. Waring. of
Prince Georges county; L. NJ. Gilpin, 81. c.
Hallowell, K. H. Lansdale, Thos. f. Lans-
dale, Arthur Stabler, H. 81. Miller, of Mont
gomery county; DR.. Benjamin King, George
Earle, H. NJ. Murray, of Anne Arundel
county; Jabez Wright, of Dorchester county;
V. S. Gordy, A. L. Jones, of Wicomico
county; James Tilghman, Thomas Dodd, of
Queen Anne's county; James I. Briscoe, Of
Calvert county, and others:
In the absence of Hon. VIM. t. Hamilton,
the president, Mr.. Henry C. Hal!owell, of
Montgomery county, presided, and Mr.. VIM.
B. Sands was secretary.
Mr.. Hallowell said: 81 remarked as came
down the street just now how small was the
number of people who take an active interest
in shaping events. Here we have had COM
mittee prepare a report on an important sub
iect, and this meeting should be packed with
practical farmers. But still we should not
be discouraged, though large meeting al
ways carries a strong moral force"
Mr.. Edward Stake, chairman of the special
committee appointed at the annual meeting
in January on the Maryland system of taxa
ton, its merits and defects, read the commit
L. % 10
ment in favor of the taxation of mortgages.
1t also discusses income taxation, which the
committee considers would be to the advantage
of the agriculturists, and favors exemption of
improvements upon farms. To amend alleged
defects in the present method for correcting
the tax list the committee recommend a sys-
TEN of blanks for yearly returns of all property
and investments, and that every person owning
property or securities of any kind be required
to procure a blank from the collector, and
make a return under oath or affirmation.
The committee prepared draft for tax law
in which provision is made for the taxation of
mortgages as well as all other property; for
the prevention of contracts compelling one
person to pay another's taxes; for the ex-
emption of improvements which do not add
to the agricultural or commercial value of
land; for an annual revision of the tax list,
principle now used in most of the states, and
by methods adapted to the present subdivi-
sions of our state. The method proposed, it
is claimed, avoids the enormous expense of
the old system of general assessments, the
creation of an army of assessors and an ex-
pensive board of review to undo the work of
the assessors.
Mr.. Allen, of Hartford county, moved that
the report of the committee be rejected.
Gen. Hardcastle, as an amendment, moved
that the report be accepted and the committee
be thanked. A motion of Mr.. Coudon, that
speeches be limited to ten minutes, was
adopted. Mr.. Allen stated that it would be
utterly absurd for a man to address in that
time the convention on the subject, which
meant to revolutionize the system of taxation.
The motion of Gen. Hardcastle was adopted.
Hon. James U. Dennis said that as they were
but mere fragment of the farmers conven-
ton, it was not for them to act upon it. He
thought it should be left for the convention in
December to act upon. He moved that the
meeting adjourn until December. The motion
was seconded by Mr.. Arthur Stabler. Mr..
Allen said: 81 denounce such action, which
may represent some covert plan. represent
the farmers of Hartford county. 1t is for some
electioneering scheme. What we want is to
reduce the taxes of the state. I may be
small man in every respect, but am accred-
ited." The motion to adjourn was lost.
Mr.. Briscoe moved to refer the whole matter
to the next meeting of the association. He
said that if there was a full assemblage of the
agricultural interests they would be glad to
hear the remarks of the gentleman from Har-
ford (Mr. Allen. The question of taxation
was a very vexed one, and had occupied
minds of greater intellectual strength than
thairc ha bod h.,
the committee in a better way than he had
ever seen done before in the state. The
matter was a business matter, and should go
before the Legislature as a non-partsan
question Mr. Allen said: "Many of us here
today represent the feeling and interest of
perhaps thousands. Why shouldn't we dis
cuss the matter to day? Why should we wait
until after the members of the Legislature
have been eected?'' DIR. Mackall said: at
is not our fault that all the convention is not
here. 1t is important that this subject should
be discussed to-day, for the very reason that
the House of Delegates is yet to be elected,
/ want this convention to take such action as
will produce results on the 9Th of November.
| want the candidates to know what the
farmers and others think.
DR.. Patterson moved that the matter be re-
ferred to the next meeting, with cordial
recommendation of the report to the favora-
BILE action of the convention.
Mr.. Coudon said: "The farmers have been
too careless in sending men to the Legislature.
II can't get the right sort Of men in my party
I'll vote for the right kind in an other party.
[Applause. The farmers should see that
the right sort of men go to the Legislature"
Mr.. Ezra BURNER, by general consent. read
paper as follows: ''rhat wos quite heavy
paper that Mr.. Cowen gave us, and it was a
heavy paper that the committee has given u.s.
The object of the farmers convention is to re-
lieve the interests ofagricuturists. The prob
lem to be solved is to secure a subsistence,
and we are to select those to whom we may
commit the sacred trust of securing our in
terests. The water in the boat is getting
deeper and all have got to work to bail it out.
We must commence bailing professional men
from Maryland politics. They remind us of
vultures, who live by pluoking eareasses; the
one is content to wait till their victim is dead,
but the other sometimes plucks US while alive
There is nothing safe in their hands. They
are peculiar people, and would to God they
could be said to be jealous in good works.
Look at the hypocrites We sent to Congress-
Who are they? McComas, Randall and 9th.
ers. We shall see as we are seen and know
as we are known. As that rich monopolist
wished drop of water, so these Congressman
VIII lucu nave Il lOHS IcEu. w usiI nave We
at Annapolis? We have the Court of APP
peals, and that is all. Isaac is not, Benjamin
is not, and they would take away from us
Simeon-the constitution. The paper before
us consists Of evolution, sugar coated pill and
taffy. Mr.. Cowen and Mr.. Stake have almost
converted me to evolution. The former has
come down from Tilden Democrat to the
pollution that robbed Tilden of the presidency
The latter is finally coming over. He form
erly was opposed to pledging, but now he is
playing fast and loose. Mr.. BURNER was then
called to order and ceased to read.
DIR. Patterson said that in DECEMBER the
members would be better able to discuss the
report inteligently.
Mr.. Dennis said: This question of taxa
ton of mortgages is, think, at the bottom
of the frey zeal of my friend from Hartford.
| think there is cardinal error in that Sec
ton of the report referring to taxation of
mortgages Never since time began was
mortgage the subject Of property. A mort
gage itself was never piece Of property, but
was an incident, the principal being the debt.
The exemption is on the debt secured by
mortgage, and there is no reason on Gods
earth why that debt should be exempt. am
for taxing the debt. The mortgage Is moi the
debt, but is merely security for the debt
Pay the debt, and the mortgage is gone. The
whole trouble about this question comes from
not distinguishing between the security and
There is a clause in that report
which seems to be questionable. As heard